Types of changes

Nouns

a rise (of)

an increase (of) a fall (in) a fluctuation (of)

a growth (of) a decrease (in) a variation (in)

a peak (of) a decline (in) Example: a

fluctuation of prices
a surge (of) a dip (in)

Example: a rise of Example: a fall in

prices prices

Verbs

to rise to fall

to increase to decrease to fluctuate

to surge to decline to vary

to grow to dip

to peak to dive

Large rises: to plunge

to rocket Large falls:

to soar to plummet

to leap (->leapt) to slump

 Description of changes

Adverbs

sharply slightly

suddenly gently

rapidly gradually

abruptly steadily

dramatically modestly

significantly marginally

considerably fractionally

markedly moderately

wildly Example: the prices increased

modestly
substantially

enormously

Overwhelmingly

Example: the prices rose sharply

 Adjectives

sharp

sudden slight

rapid gentle

abrupt gradual

dramatic steady

steep consistent

significant modest

considerable marginal

marked moderate

substantial fractional

spectacular Example: there was a gradual

decline
Example: there was a considerable
growth
 Useful phrases
a small fraction, a small number, a small minority

a large portion, a significant proportion, a very large majority.

almost 10%, exactly one in ten, nearly a fifth, over a quarter, approximately a
third, in region of 40%, a half, more than a half, around two thirds, more or
less three quarters

to show an upward trend/ to show a downward trend

to hit the highest point/ to hit the lowest point
the highest/ the lowest

to reach a peak
to show some fluctuation / to fluctuate wildly

to remain stable/ to remain static/

to remain unchanged/ to stay constant
to reach a plateau /to level off/ to flatten out
the second highest/ the third highest
compared to/ compared with/ relative to

 Approximately
 Nearly
 Roughly
 Almost
 About
 Around
 More or less
 Just over
 Just under
 Just around
 Just about
 Just below
 A little more than
 A little less than